The Franklin Amateur Swim Team has completed its 16th straight unbeaten campaign.
Having won their first three contests of the year, FAST ended its regular season with two meets in less than a week. With wins over the Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club and Highlands Hurricanes, the team set their sights on a 20th straight conference title at the Mountain Swim League Championships July 13.
On June 27 FAST travelled to Canton for their second meet in seven days with the Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club. In a rematch of Franklin’s blowout win at home the previous week, Gatlin Harlfinger led the way for the Fins in the 6 & under age group, winning the boys 25-yard freestyle in 37.35 seconds.
Tatham Peters claimed three events for FAST in the 8 & under age group, taking home the boys 25 free (18.14), 25 backstroke (24.81) and 100 individual medley (2:01.36). Owen Baillio won the 25 breaststroke (36.32), while Sebastian Hernandez won the 25 butterfly (29.56).
On the girls side Kendall Adams also claimed multiple events, winning the 25 breast (39.26) and 100 IM (3:03.44). Nyla Rivera took home the 50 free (53.69).
Just one FAST Fin earned a win in the 9-10 age group, with Braxton Dezarn claiming the 50 free (36.00). Dezarn also placed second in the 50 fly (58.06) and 100 free (1:27.25).
Madelyn Kennedy and Charlie Scruggs earned Franklin’s only wins in the 11-12 age group, with Kennedy taking home the girls 50 breast (49.40) and Scruggs claiming the boys 100 free (1:28.82). Scruggs also placed second in the 50 fly (55.19), while Kennedy placed second in the 50 free (32.38), second in the 100 IM (1:46.31) and third in the 50 back (55.57).
Malik Walker won three events for FAST in the 13-14 age group, including the 50 free (26.45), 100 free (1:04.52) and 100 fly (1:12.59). FAST also got wins from Thatcher Daniels in the 200 IM (2:39.32), Gavin Alverson in the 100 back (1:22.39) and Gabriel Ostojic in the 100 breast (1:24.94). On the girls side Izabelle Scruggs claimed the 100 fly (1:47.35) and 200 IM (3:15.46), while Rylee Rogers took home the 100 breast (1:34.39).
Three FAST girls won events in the 15-18 age group, including Olivia Rinker in the 100 fly (1:39.97), Brooke Borgmann in the 100 breast (1:41.62) and Claire Ballard in the 200 IM (2:38.06). On the boys side Jose Gomez won the 200 IM (2:24.39), while Harrison Word won the 100 breast (1:12.40).
Once again FAST routed SMAC as a team, outscoring their rivals 3,929-2,354.
Five days later, FAST returned to the Macon County Rec Park to host Highlands in their final regular-season meet. In a rematch of their 728-531 win June 6, Emmett Marshall led the way for Franklin in the 6 & under age group with a win in the boys 25 free (38.42).
Peters and Rivera dominated the 8 & under races, earning four event wins apiece for FAST. On the boys side Peters claimed the 25 free (18.13), 25 breast (27.35), 50 free (47.08) and 100 IM (1:58.52); while Rivera won the girls 25 fly (28.76), 25 breast (31.83), 50 free (51.35) and 100 IM (2:18.26). Bailey Dockery took home the girls 25 free (25.50) and 25 back (26.04), while Xzavier Rios won the boys 25 back (30.01). Dockery also placed second in the 25 breast (32.41) and 50 free (52.62).
Nathan Jessup won three events for FAST in the 9-10 age group, claiming the boys 50 fly (50.55), 50 breast (48.58) and 100 IM (1:38.81); and placing second in the 50 free (35.94). Dezarn and Leila Pinkston won two events apiece, with Dezarn taking home the boys 50 free (35.13) and 100 free (1:30.04), and Pinkston claiming the girls 50 breast (47.69) and 100 free (1:47.06). Larken Lynch took home the girls 100 IM (1:47.76), placed second in the 50 fly (51.26) and third in the 50 breast (1:01.55).
Madelyn Kennedy led the way for FAST in the 11-12 age group, placing second in the girls 50 breast (48.48) and 50 fly (45.90). Charlie Scruggs placed second in the boys 50 free (38.13).
In the 13-14 age group, Malik Walker joined Peters and Rivera as FAST’s only four-event winners, winning the boys 50 free (25.51), 100 free (58.84), 100 fly (1:12.90) and 200 IM (2:37.15). Gabriel Ostojic took home the 100 breast (1:22.49).
Two FAST Fins won multiple events for the 13-14 girls, with Dalila Canzone claiming the 50 free (28.02) and 100 free (1:04.99), and Lana Walker claiming the 100 breast (1:33.41) and 200 IM (2:54.44). Bri Dezarn took home the 100 back (1:21.09), while Kenna Keyworth won the 100 fly (1:22.48) and placed second in the 50 free (28.64) and 100 free (1:05.76).
Claire Ballard earned FAST’s only event wins in the 15-18 age age group, claiming the 100 breast (1:15.91), 100 fly (1:14.24) and 200 IM (2:34.60). Zoi Walker placed second in the 50 free (27.66), 100 free (1:06.78) and 100 breast (1:28.30), while Jose Gomez placed second in the boys 50 free (24.62), 100 breast (1:11.39) and 100 fly (1:05.95).
After being outscored by Highlands 358-308 in the rivals’ first meeting, Franklin’s boys returned the favor in the rematch, taking revenge on the Hurricanes 383-324. FAST’s girls routed their counterparts 479-226 for the overall win, 862-550.
After securing an incredible 16th straight unbeaten season, the FAST Fins prepared to host the Mountain Swim League Conference Meet July 13.